Friday, April 26th 2024 11:17 AM
Doha: Extra-time goals from Mao Hosoya and Kotaro Uchino ensured Japan squeezed past 10-man Qatar and into the semi-finals of the AFC U23 Asian Cup Qatar 2024™ with a 4-2 win over Ilidio Vale’s side at Jassim bin Hamad Stadium on Thursday.
Hosoya slipped the ball under substitute goalkeeper Ali Korayem to break Qatar’s resistance 11 minutes into extra time, and Uchino added the fourth with seven minutes left as Go Oiwa’s side moved a step closer to claiming the title.
Fuki Yamada had given Japan a second-minute lead. However, the Qataris steadily asserted themselves, and in the 24th minute, Vale’s team pulled level. The Qataris then shrugged off Yousef Abdullah’s 41st-minute red card to go in front four minutes into the second half through Jassem Gaber.
The ball found its way to Abdulla Al Yazidi on the right after Kein Sato fell in an attempt to cut out possession, and the Qatari’s centre was met unchallenged by Al Rawi, who bulleted his header home.
But Seiji Kimura’s 67th-minute header restored parity, while Hosoya and Uchino struck late to take their nation into the last four. The Japanese seek to maintain their qualifying record for every Olympic Games since 1996.
Japan’s late show contrasted with their rapid start, the Samurai Blue taking the lead on their first foray forward.
Qatar gifted Oiwa’s team the opener after Hiroki Sekine’s hopeful long ball saw Saif Eldeen Hassan under-hit his pass. Yamada collected possession to smash a left-foot shot into the top corner of Abdullah’s goal.
Japan were in control, with Rihito Yamamoto and Joel Fujita dictating the tempo and Kuryu Matsuki busy, the FC Tokyo playmaker thumping his attempt from outside the area over the crossbar.
However, the Qataris steadily asserted themselves, and in the 24th minute, Vale’s team pulled level.
The ball found its way to Abdulla Al Yazidi on the right after Kein Sato fell in an attempt to cut out possession, and the Qatari’s centre was met unchallenged by Al Rawi, who bulleted his header home.
Hosoya should have restored Japan’s lead seven minutes before the break, shooting wide on the stretch from close range after Matsuki’s incisive ball across the face of goal.
Moments later, Abdullah was seeing red. He was dismissed after referee Hanna Hattab consulted the pitchside monitor following a clash with Hosoya. The Qatari was guilty of lashing out at the Japan striker as he leapt to clear a high ball.
With a quarter of regular time remaining, the Japanese were level when Kimura nodded home Yamamoto’s in-swinging corner from close range to set up a finish that saw Sato force replacement goalkeeper Ali Korayem into a save while Shota Fujio headed over.
Qatar refused to be despondent despite being down a man, and four minutes after the restart, the home side went in front. Moustafa Meshal’s pinpoint free-kick delivery landed squarely on Gaber's head, and he made no mistake.
Oiwa’s side were unable to find a way through again in regulation time, but in the 101st minute, Hosoya was fed by Ryotaro Araki, and he slid his shot under Korayem. Uchino tapped in after the goalkeeper parried Sota Kawasaki’s shot to break home hearts.
